[Sdpg] Common Vision Permaculture Series: Soil Food Web course Aug 10-14 / Orchard as Ecosystem Sept 11-13/ Permaculture Design Intensive Oct 2-4 Bay Area

[Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

Here's some info on the "World Leaders in Sustainability"  series.  

Common Vision has an epic line-up of permaculture and sustainability 
workshops this summer/fall with some of the most esteemed teachers in 
the world, namely Elaine Ingham, Darren Doherty, and Michael Philips. 
 All courses will be held at the M.A. Center in Castro Valley with 
group camping options.  We hope you can be involved.  

Soil Food Web w/ Dr. Elaine Ingham  (August 2009)
August 10-14th 2009  @  M.A. Center in Bay Area



Dr. Elaine Ingham PhD is revered internationally as the preeminent 
teacher of soil micro-life and how human survival depends on it. 
   Her five day intensive course will transmit a wealth of knowledge 
and teach hands-on compost and compost tea strategies for organic 
gardens, orchards, and landscapes. Common Vision and the GreenFriends 
have worked hard to offer this course at almost half the price of Dr. 
Ingham's usual course tuitions.       

In this course you will learn to:

     * Understand Soil Microlife
     * Make biologically powerful compost
     * Brew and analyze Compost Tea
     * Grow healthier plants and food
     * Never look at soil the same way again
     * Save the planet through top soil health.

<http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/soilfoodweb/soilfoodweb.php>http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/soilfoodweb/soilfoodweb.php


Fruit Forest: Orchard as Ecosystem (Sept 2009)
September 11-13 @ M.A. Center in the Bay Area


Michael Philips is author of The Apple Grower, a definitive guide to 
growing organic apples holistically. Michael's knowledge of fruit 
trees, orchard management, companion plants, and soil science has 
helped him to become well spring of information and inspiration for 
orchardists and backyard gardeners alike.  He integrates the 
intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of 
modern scientific research and innovation. Michael shares his breadth 
of wisdom woven through personal stories in a way of amplifying a 
passion and inspiration for growing fruit trees and 'abetting 
Nature's way'.  Using the MA Center orchards, Michael will bring 
participants on an ecological journey that explores how we can create 
an optimal "forest-edge- ecosystem" perfect for fruit trees.


     * Walking through the orchard season
     * Moving beyond organic: The holistic approach
     * Creating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem
     * Managing  understory  plants, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms.
     * Using plant medicines and compost teas to boost tree immune resistance
     * Evaluating strategies for the existing and new hillside 
orchards at the MA Center
     * On site Apple Harvesting and Juicing

<http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/applegrower/applegrower.php>http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/applegrower/applegrower.php


Permaculture Design Intensive with Darren Doherty (Oct 2009)
October 2-4  @  M.A. Center in Bay Area



Darren Doherty (Australia) is one of the world's most experienced 
Permaculture Design professionals and teachers.    A prolific 
designer, Darren has developed over 1100 properties across 4 
continents and has co-taught with Bill Mollison & David Holmgren (the 
co-originators of Permaculture) and Geoff Lawton.  In this workshop 
Darren will be bringing his immense experience in water design, 
pasture regeneration, and species selection to the MA Center to work 
with participants to create a working design that:

     * Rapidly improves soil fertility for the new orchards.
     * Connects rainwater catching earthworks across the landscape
     * Employs Keyline design strategies for orchards, paddocks, and 
reforestation
     * Uses cow grazing to improve soil health.
     * Plants trees within grazing patterns.
     * Develop a productive and marketable agroforestry system
     * Exploring the food forest / orchard edge
     * Hand-on Keyline design and live ploughing
     * On-site Permaculture consultancy strategies

<http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/darrendoherty/darrendoherty.php>http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/darrendoherty/darrendoherty.php


About the M.A. Center

The M.A. Center is the US headquarters for the international 
humanitarian and spiritual activities of an India saint, Mata 
Amritanandamayi (known as Amma).  The 180-acre grounds serve as an 
educational hub for the Bay Area through demonstration of exemplary 
sustainable design and practices.   Drawn by the site's beauty, 
accessibility by public transportation, and the center's 
uncompromising dedication to using all proceeds to fund international 
humanitarian aid projects, hundreds of volunteers have joined 
together in service to plant the orchards and reforest the hillsides.
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